She was dying, and her children were with her. They were going to be orphaned. Wen Qing couldn't save her.

( all this said, low and level, with a pained exhalation at the end, the huff of laughter that isn't laughter slipping past his lips. )

She asked that we try anything. So I did.

( the silence just hangs there, aching. and then it ends.

the voice contact, that is. )